Highland Council ‘totally committed’ to school building but still needs to cut their funding

The huge outcry over Highland Council’s bid to dump 10 schools from any realistic hope of construction in the next five years has prompted a response from the local authority leader defending the cuts.

A review has “indicated” that due to rising capital costs and inflation, the costs of the previously agreed and promised capital programme had increased substantially from £475 million in March to £566 million July.

Leader Raymond Bremner argued that members must agree to the £343 million plan contained in the General Fund capital investment paper for the five years up to 2028/29 to fund a “number of priorities” while remaining affordable.

He said the council “remains totally committed to building the named schools in the paper” that is being presented at a meeting of the full council tomorrow but it needs Scottish Government cash.

Cllr Bremner pointed out that the council is “completing the purchase of the land for building St Clements School” – yet the land purchase was authorised almost a year ago and has still not concluded.

But certain things he said did not tally with what is contained in the official paper. Cllr Bremner said: "We will continue to progress these projects as far as the council can to ensure that the projects are deliverable should Scottish Government funding be forthcoming."

In the report written by Brian Porter, head of corporate finance and Kate Lackie, interim depute chief executive it stated in regard to those schools that missed out: "For the other LEIP Phase 3 bids, ongoing capital funding to progress the current intended scope of the projects is not provided in the proposed capital programme over the next five years."

So whether the council’s “commitment” is convincing for the parents, pupils, staff and the public – some of whom have waited more than two decades for new school buildings – remains to be seen but their anger this week has already been palpable.

Cllr Bremner said: “The council has needed to review the capital programme for some time due to significant inflationary costs seen in projects across the previous programme making it unaffordable.

“The results of the review that are being presented to council for approval, are a revision of capital works that include appropriate mitigations to make progress and ensure the safety of our pupils and staff in our schools.

“The programme, if agreed, will reaffirm the council’s commitment to projects currently being implemented as a result of previous phases of the Scottish Government’s Learning Investment Programme (LEIP).

“The programme will also allocate funding supporting repairs and maintenance of named school projects included in the Council’s bid to Phase 3 of LEIP. The council remains totally committed to building the named schools in the paper that is coming to council but this is contingent on funding being made available from the Scottish Government.

“We will continue to progress these projects as far as the council can to ensure that the projects are deliverable should Scottish Government funding be forthcoming. As an example, the council has already agreed to and is now completing the purchase of the land for building St Clements School.

“The Highland Council has a vast infrastructure estate with over 200 schools. Our vision is to provide the best possible school environments for our pupils, and we will continue to work with our partners, parents, communities and Scottish Government to achieve the investment required.”

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